Your Questions Answered

Secret Life of the Teenager

Phyllis replied:

Thank you for your advice.  I’ll pass it along to our readers.

I’m Like Alice

Alice on her Way

 Question:

 
I just finished reading your book “Alice on Her Way” and I have chosen it to do my English ISU on.
 
I have to make a media display for this book and was wondering if you had any ideas for things I could put on it.  I was thinking of using an object for every major event in the book; ex.car keys for Alice getting her driver’s licence.
 
P.S. Alice on Her Way is the first of the Alice books that I have read (I didn’t know it was like a series), and I plan on reading all of the rest; I really liked this one!

 
Phyllis replied:

I think that’s an excellent idea.  Go for it!

Does He Like Me?

Question:

Hi Phyllis! I have something to ask you. So, there’s this boy in my class. He’s mostly sweet but we’re both very opinionated and fight often. We’re usually friends, but the longest we haven’t been is two weeks. Anyway, here’s an email from him that I just got. Today was one of our “bad” days.

My First Period

Question:

hi phyllis!!! first off, i want to tell you that i have loved loved loved your books since i was in 4th grade. I’m just ending 6th now, but i have read almost all of them. I have written to you before, but it has been months. I’m twelve and three months ago, i got my first period. i was at my friends birthday party and i went upstairs from her basement to go to the bathroom. when i pulled my underwear down, i saw a lot of brown. i had read about getting your period on websites ,and American Girl books, so i thought i had gotten it, but wasn’t sure. i started breathing really fast and when i wiped, i saw red blood. i went downstairs and told my friend, who had gotten her period a few months before. i told my mom and older sister, not my dad. my real questions are: how should i tell him? and how often should i be getting it? I’ve gotten it once since then, but that’s it besides discharge…. thanks a lot!!!! i love your books!

Phyllis replied:

Very often periods are irregular for a while when you first begin, so you might want to have a pad available somewhere if you do–in a pocket of a back pack or a zipper pencil bag or something.  As for telling your dad, he might already know if your mom told him.  If not, why not ask her to tell him?  I found that the easiest way to do when I got my first period.

Secret Life of American Teenager

Greetings from Switzerland

Want to Prove to My Parents

Question:

This february of 2010 I went to Mexico, and fell completely in love
with my parents small, not well known, and poor town. Every Febraury
annually there is a fair. I want t go badly  next year, or whever I
can. Though times are tough now, and my parents may not be able to
afford five tickets for my family. So I wanted to prove to my parents
that I was resposible, so I have decided to earn my own money to pay
for the ticket and neccessities in Mexico. I don’t plan on going
alone, hopefully I go with my 17 year old brother. Hopefully if I get
enough money my parents will let me go. So far I have $75 … I think.
Have you ever felt like you’d do anything to get to that place, that
little piece of heaven you hae, you own little world. Mexico is also a
place for me to escape and ignore my problems at school. It puts me at
peace it’s my bliss and my everything,. I miss everything about it,
you may think oh small towns, but I’m positive you would like it there
too. ANyone would, if they took the time to see it and breathe in
thclean air and see the blue green river waves flowing smoothly like
silky hair. Amazing. Do you have any ideas on how I could raise my own
money? I’m only 12 and have been told I am mature for my age, normalya mature person wouldn’t be ery stubborn but like I said I’d do
anything to go there in February.

Phyllis replied:

It does indeed sound like a wonderful place and I would probably love it too.  Part of your planning, however, should be not just the price of your plane ticket, but where you would stay, who would go with  you, and–most of all–whether, even if you had the money, your parents would allow you and your brother to go alone.  Assuming that all you would need is money, however, anyone with enough determination to do something should also have the imagination to figure out how to get it done.  You know your own family, your own neighborhood, and your own town.  What does anyone need that you could offer to do or to give to them?  When do you have time to spare that someone else might need?  What are your special talents or skills?   What have people relied on you to do in the past that was successful?  Think of what it is you do best; then figure out who might be able to use this skill, and hire you.

Will You Make Any Books About her Older Life?

Question:

     My Friend and I like the Alice series. It teaches us  a lot of new things. since i started reading them i haven’t yet wanted to put them down because they are so good. My favorite is Almost Alice it is really interesting! I am about done with the series and that makes me sad because I want to hear about later in Alice’s life! Do you think you will make any books about her older life in college or when she is married?

Phyllis replied:

The very last book in the series, “Always Alice,” which will be published in 2013, will take Alice from age 18 to age 60.  There will be a chapter about each of the important events in her life during those years.

Helped Me Through a Break-Up

Question:

Phyllis replied:

I’m really happy that the Alice books helped you through the break-up.  Often we never know the whole truth about why someone broke up with us.  But getting that intimate with a boy so soon after you started dating can turn out to be awkward and embarrassing.  Try to let mistakes made now save you from making bigger ones later.   Alice makes several mistakes she regrets in “Alice in Charge,” coming out this June.